What it took
 It was true pioneering spirit that kept them going through those first few years when they cleared the land and planned their home while living in a single, uninsulated, tin garage. This humble dwelling formed the nucleus from which they fed, socialised with and gave English lessons to up to 12 workers regularly. Even for an ex-restaurateur, catering was no mean feat considering there was no running hot water and the only two hotplates couldn't be run at the same time as the oven.
 The ever-changing and multi-national workforce of WWOOFERS (Willing Workers On Organic Farms) embraced the lifestyle that had them boiling a copper for two hours before siphoning the steaming water into their outdoor bath. The pleasure of soaking under the stars at night was well earned and much commented on. So much so that an outdoor bath has been added as a feature to The Peach Suite which allows you to imagine (in comfort) the earlier prototype. The Wwoofers were an integral part of the process of making adobe bricks and working on the construction of The Mudcastle but more importantly, perhaps, they kept morale up and the dream focussed.
Why clay though? A chance comment by a builder friend led Kevin and Glenys to explore the possibility of earthbuilding and the more they read, the more convinced they became that, although never having built anything in their lives, this was something they could do. A one day course with Richard and Bella Walker clinched it. As a bonus, it was discovered that the clay on their property had the ideal composition for making adobe bricks and so utilising the earth beneath them as a resource without cement or sand stabilization was to be the first point of difference for The Mudcastle.
 Next began the process of adapting clay seiving and brick production methods written for Australian conditions and fine-tuning them to accommodate the uniqueness of The Mudcastle site. As with most adventures, there were peaks and troughs. In batch one, the labour intensive, textbook foot-stomping method was used. Still hobbling three days later for a pitiful yield of 70 bricks, and fast running out of friends volunteering to repeat the experience, this method was quickly abandoned.
 With the refined process they dubbed the Cake-mixer Method using a customised rotary hoe, production improved to 300 bricks on their best day. Three rotary hoes and one front end loader later, the required 10,000 bricks were produced for the first phase of building.
 The bricks were sun-baked in wooden molds with temperature extremes moderated by polythene covers but there were occasions when, exhausted, they took the risk of leaving the bricks exposed to the weather at night and this did not pay off. All part of the keeping of their dream alive.
Structural engineer Gary Hodder, who is well aquainted with earthbuilding, transformed their ideas into a coherent plan acceptable to council building inspectors. Special attention was given to sunlines for generating passive solar heating and sightlines to capture views from every room.
Clive Johnston, Kevin's father and a traditional blocklayer by trade, trained Glenys to blocklay the adobe bricks coming off Kevin's production line and worked alongside the couple sharing and expanding his expertise on the way. Opened to new influences, Clive discovered and perfected a revolutionary building product that has been used for the first time in the construction of the castle turrets, the second phase of building.
On one or other level, all four faces of The Mudcastle are graced with interesting joinery, superbly crafted by Michael Bender of Riverside Joinery in local timbers.
The leadlight windows throughout were designed and made by Glenys, another fitting feature of the creative, castle-like interior.
And Peter Harte, Glenys' father and an electrician by trade, has enhanced The Mudcastle with dramatic lighting and creative ideas, and is a constant, encouraging presence in the forward momentum of Glenys and Kevin's dream.
This is a dream, however, that has taken its toll on the couple physically, emotionally and financially. A disk prolapse suffered by Glenys meant her blocklaying days ended abruptly and a bewildering and soul destroying involvement with ACC began. Kevin's health failed as he tried to pick up what Glenys used to do and he was medically retired from his job. Glenys developed depression and the couple struggled to cope with their altered roles and financial situation. The passion for the dream dipped to a flicker but they held on.
 
Phase One Phase Two
Many years later, using borrowed money, hired help and renewed determination, phase two of building construction was completed with two turrets connected by a crenellated castle wall. And the brick count rose to 20,000, give or take one or two. Today the central turret is a larger function room capable of seating 100 and is proving extremely popular as a unique venue in which to hold a private function of any kind, to have a themed conference dinner or to experience a play over a meal.
The second smaller turret to the right is a two storey honeymoon suite named The Gold Turret - private and self-contained, overlooking the small medieval orchard of quince, pomegranate, hazelnuts, crabapple and medlar.
The crenellated castle wall serves to fortify the ridge, link the two structures together and provide a boundary for the extension to the top carpark.
Phase Three was not planned. The macrocarpa board and batten exterior of the top storey of Phase One was not weathering at all well so a hefty repair was required to retain a waterproof cladding on the building. The choice was made to plaster and strike it to simulate adobe bricks then make tinted limewash from an old original recipe to further seal it. The hope was that the deviation from plan would not appear screamingly out of place and would only be another detour in the road to complete the couple's dream.
Phase Three
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